The young pretender, the reigning champion or someone else: who is the most likely Cheltenham Gold Cup winner?

Fact To File dazzled in the John Durkan Memorial Chase, edging out fellow young pretender Spillane's Tower to shoot to the head of the market for the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Reigning champion Galopin Des Champs lost little in defeat - so who do our reports think is the likeliest winner come March?

• ‘It’s going to be a hell of a season’ - Willie Mullins thrilled as Fact To File assumes Gold Cup favouritism after electric John Durkan 

'He's bounced back from Punchestown defeat before'

Fact To File is exciting. Who knows what level he may reach after winning a cracking John Durkan in just his fifth chase?

But Galopin Des Champs is hugely effective over 3m2½f at Cheltenham in March, better than anything else that turned up in the last two seasons and one of the best this century.

He bounced back from defeat over 2m4f at Punchestown to land another Gold Cup last season and has a better chance of doing that again than odds of 9-2 suggest.

Galopin Des Champs had an interrupted preparation yet kept on for third despite setting a pace so strong that fellow front-runner Grangeclare West was pulled up and I'd be loathed to lay him.
David Carr, reporter

Lots to like about Fact To File

Fact To File was my idea of the Gold Cup winner even before landing a John Durkan Memorial Chase that was described by winning trainer Willie Mullins as the best running of the Grade 1 he had seen.

I was really impressed by how Fact To File won the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and the fact he was able to make a successful reappearance over an inadequate 2m3½f trip here, unlike when beaten at odds-on by American Mike last year, is encouraging.

Mark Walsh and groom Georgia Fennell-Clarke with Fact To File after his John Durkan successCredit: Patrick McCann

Galopin Des Champs cannot be discounted, as he got the better of his Punchestown nemesis Fastorslow when running well in third and will be a formidable opponent at Cheltenham in March.

However, I am sticking with the younger Fact To File to get the better of his hat-trick-seeking stablemate in a one-two for Mullins. I cannot see Fastorslow or Gerri Colombe beating Galopin Des Champs around Cheltenham or Grey Dawning staying the 3m2½f trip.
Charlie Huggins, reporter

Don't write Fastorslow off at 14-1

There were great performances by Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower to defeat the established brigade on their first start in open company. However, we know Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow appreciate further so it was effectively the speed horses coming out on top. 

I don’t think bookmakers should be pushing Fastorslow out to as big as 14-1 for the Gold Cup. He looked to blow up turning in but was still in contention going to the last, so don't write him off. 

Fact To File has long been thought of as a champion in waiting, and we shall see. He’s got plenty of pace, but how well will he get up that Cheltenham hill in a Gold Cup?
James Hill, tipster

Read more . . .

‘It’s going to be a hell of a season’ - Willie Mullins thrilled as Fact To File assumes Gold Cup favouritism after electric John Durkan 

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